Starbucks to negotiate with workers forming a union in Buffalo

Starbucks Corp. said in a letter to its U.S. employees that it will negotiate in “good faith with its workers at a store in Buffalo, New York, that voted to unionize.

The letter comes days after the employees’ votes to form the coffee giant’s first U.S. union were certified. The employees, who work at the Starbucks store in the Elmwood neighborhood of Buffalo, will join Workers United, affiliated with the massive Service Employees International Union.

“From the beginning, we’ve been clear in our belief that we do not want a union between us as partners, and that conviction has not changed, Rossann Williams, executive VP, president North America, Starbucks, stated in the letter. “However, we have also said that we respect the legal process. This means we will bargain in good faith with the union that represents partners in the one Buffalo store that voted in favor of union representation. Our hope is that union representatives also come to the table with mutual good faith, respect and positive intent.”

The push to unionize at Starbucks is spreading. Baristas at two Starbucks locations in Boston have filed for union elections, reported CNBC.  

And more stores in Buffalo and in Mesa, Ariz., are also seeking to organize.